With popular culture practically choking on vampires, does Dracula, Bram Stoker's classic Gothic horror tale, still have anything to say to us?
The novel, still in print after well over a century, surely does. As a model of dense, intense storytelling as well as allegorically, it pleases readers to this day in spite of its distinctly old-fashioned literary style. True horror is timeless.
However, the new Off Broadway revival of Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston's play, which dates from the 1920s and was successfully revived in 1977 starring Frank Langella, lacks (to use the obvious metaphor) a certain bite.
Leavened by comic relief from two servants (played brightly by Katharine Luckinbill and Rob O'Hare), the story plays out straight. The playwrights wisely narrowed their field, adapting (somewhat freely) the later part of Stoker's story, set in London. 
The Count, along with the crates of Transylvania dirt he must sleep in by day, has taken up residence at a crumbling manor house adjacent to the home of Dr. Seward (Timothy Jerome) and his daughter Lucy (an excellent Emily Bridges, daughter of the actor Beau Bridges). Mina Harker, an important character in the novel, is already one of the undead, feeding nightly on the local children, while poor Lucy receives nightly suckings from Dracula himself, who means to transform her into his undead queen.
Undertaking what I can't help thinking of as the George Hamilton role, the young Italian actor Michel Altieri in his American debut makes a charismatic, half-campy Dracula. With sharp features, long, flowing black hair, and an exotic accent he has the requisite, glittery-eyed, appealingly scary presence.
The production's big draw, George Hearn, is fine as the Count's adversary Van Helsing, and it's nice to see him and hear that famous voice, but it could have been anyone up there—any gracefully aging actor with some gravitas, anyway. This wouldn't likely be a career-defining role for anyone.
Article comments
1 - Cracker Jack
I'm sorry, but the script was the least of the problems with this poorly conceived, poorly executed mess of a show. Every element of the production was shoddy: the execution of scenic, lighting and sound design, special effects, accents, acting and direction -- all of it.
The fact that the penultimate scene consisted of three actors holding Dracula at bay for almost 5 minutes -- no action, just them standing there brandishing crosses at him, talking with Dracula center stage for 5 minutes is evidence of the lack of care and passion that went into the show.
2 - troy lewis
Im so excited that George Hamilton is going to be at the Hollywood Show. (hollywoodshow.com) Can't wait to meet him!!